News on your favorite shows, specials & more!
pixeltracker

NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post

NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post

nybkg609 Profile Photo
nybkg609
#1NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 10:48am

Reported in the NY Post this morning. New York, New York is in big box office trouble. Read the link and comment:

https://nypost.com/2023/07/10/broadways-new-york-new-york-could-close-in-weeks-sources/

pablitonizer
#2NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 10:51am

Oh no, I always feel bad when this happens NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post

 

The article also notes:

And while that crop of shows was partly hurt by negative reviews, sources said a few critical darlings are eyeing September end dates. 

One could be “Some Like It Hot” at the Shubert, whose grosses have more ups and downs than the Cyclone in Coney Island. Having lost Best Musical to “Kimberly Akimbo,” and with a weekly running cost of some $950,000, it will be hard to stay hot all summer.

 

ACL2006 Profile Photo
ACL2006
#3NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 10:54am

Both shows have high weekly operating costs. So if they're not selling at high capacity, they're more or less done. I thought Some Like It Hot could stick it out through the end of the year. New York, New York has never had much steam to boost their grosses or even good word-of-mouth.


A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

jkcohen626 Profile Photo
jkcohen626
#4NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 11:09am

The articles I need are not speculations on closing (we all knew NY, NY wasn't making it past labor day, right?), but an analysis of why on Earth producers keep throwing over $20 million at new shows (without stars) and how on Earth they're letting them cost this much to run. I know, I know, I know inflation, everything is more expensive. But a show that costs $1.2 Million a week to run still sounds absurdly expensive to me. 

Robbie2 Profile Photo
Robbie2
#5NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 11:16am

Poor Stro another FLOP on Broadway! 


"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new." Sunday in the Park with George

jacobsnchz14 Profile Photo
jacobsnchz14
#6NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 11:16am

Broadway must now face facts — they have created a landscape where [...] post-pandemic, nobody is willing to spend that kind of money anymore.

There it is.

quizking101 Profile Photo
quizking101
#7NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 11:17am

This doesn't seem like news. I think most of us had extremely high expectations of this show given the pedigree and most of us were severely disappointed by the show in one aspect or another - whether it be the polarizing casting, the recycled/hybrid score, or the lazily written book.

I had a feeling that this was going to tank when I saw it in previews and I just sat there reactionless - all sizzle and no sausage. The lady in front of me at intermission even asked me and the folks near me "Are you guys enjoying this at all?" in a very confused tone.

Drama Book Shop was literally giving away free tickets to this show last week to anyone who bought their tie-in coffee special. 


Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!! www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm

bdn223 Profile Photo
bdn223
#8NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 11:25am

But how have operating costs gotten to $1.2M a week? If anything this article screams operating costs have become unsustainable especially when it quotes a $950K cost for Some Like It Hot. Pre-Covid if show made $1M a week there was little doubt it was a making money with a few rare exceptions Moulin Rouge, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Spiderman Turn off the DarkMotown, and now 3 years later it means they are likely barely treading water. 

Sweeney Todd, which has a similar sized cast and orchestra and is also just a lavish, but is also paying 5 names, 2 of which are above the title only cost $850-$900K a week to operate, but Some Like It Hot and New York, New York neither of which have names cost an additional $50K-$350K a week to operate? Where is this additional money going? If anything this points to a desperate need to Broadway to bring in some restructuring consultants to figure out how to maintain quality while slashing costs.

Mr. Wormwood Profile Photo
Mr. Wormwood
#9NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 11:25am

This is not news although some details are interesting. Best case scenario is this making it to Labor Day. I also still stand by my belief that SLIH won't make it to January like some think.

As far as NYNY, I feel like Lin-Manuel has been pretty tepid in terms of promoting it. It's like he knew it wasn't that good and kept it at an arms-length despite being involved creatively.

James885 Profile Photo
James885
#10NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 11:33am

jkcohen626 said: "The articles I need are not speculations on closing (we all knew NY, NY wasn't making it past labor day, right?), but an analysis of why on Earth producers keep throwing over $20 million at new shows (without stars) and how on Earth they're letting them cost this much to run. I know, I know, I know inflation, everything is more expensive. But a show that costs $1.2 Million a week to run still sounds absurdly expensive to me."

I'm not in NYC so I haven't seen the show but mounting this show always felt like a huge gamble to me: a big, expensive musical with no big stars that's based off an obscure (at least to the general public) film. Seems like they were really banking on the pedigree of the creative team to put butts in seats, but Stroman and Kander & Ebb aren't the kind of names that will do that. And it might be blasphemous to some, but I don't think Lin's name alone is the kind of high-wattage star power that sells scores of tickets.


"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" - Betty Parris to Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Phillyguy
#11NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 11:36am

jkcohen626 said: "The articles I need are not speculations on closing (we all knew NY, NY wasn't making it past labor day, right?), but an analysis of why on Earth producers keep throwing over $20 million at new shows (without stars) and how on Earth they're letting them cost this much to run. I know, I know, I know inflation, everything is more expensive. But a show that costs $1.2 Million a week to run still sounds absurdly expensive to me."

It's inevitable when the cost of everything is up. The writer's striker is a reminder that everyone is fighting for a fair wage, that will continue to drive up the cost of shows. 

Kad Profile Photo
Kad
#12NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 11:38am

I know out of town tryouts are costly and generally falling out of practice but getting these new musicals out of their development bubble and in front of paying audiences before they open in the unforgiving Broadway market is extremely valuable. 


"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

Leaf Coneybear Profile Photo
Leaf Coneybear
#13NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 11:41am

Part of the key also, I think, is actually making changes in previews. I saw one of the first previews and it was pretty painful. At times I had to keep myself from laughing out loud at the book: As my friend put it, it sounded like AI wrote a musical. Absolutely no substance, and of course way too many things going on. 

If these had been addressed early on it may have helped the show promote itself, but as far as I can tell the script is still terrible, Colton's still doing his weird accent, and they have about a million plots going on to the point where no one cares about any of them. As sad as it is to see a show close, this one has been a long time coming.

pethian Profile Photo
pethian
#14NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 11:47am

I had heard about the break even for SLIH but the NYNY number is news to me and it is jaw-dropping...and head-scratching. I don't like hearing when any show fails, even those I didn't care for, but this news makes me especially sad because of the larger picture of how unimaginably daunting the finances of Broadway have become, especially for a big musical.

binau Profile Photo
binau
#15NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 11:56am

pethian said: "I had heard about the break even for SLIH but the NYNY number is news to me and it is jaw-dropping...and head-scratching. I don't like hearing when any show fails, even those I didn't care for, but this news makes me especially sad because of the larger picture of how unimaginably daunting the finances of Broadway have become, especially for a big musical."

Exactly. The bigger picture is that economics of Broadway are becoming too unsustainable. It always has been tough, but this is madness. 


"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022) "Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009) "Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000

Impeach2017 Profile Photo
Impeach2017
#16NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 11:59am

just a reminder where this so-called news is coming from but that won't stop the gotchas on here will it?

BETTY22
#17NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 12:07pm

WOW. $1.2 million per week break even.

What were they thinking? 

quizking101 Profile Photo
quizking101
#18NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 12:13pm

BETTY22 said: "WOW. $1.2 million per week break even.

What were they thinking?
"

They were thinking it had the potential to become a long-running hit with an armful of Tony Awards and an appeal that crosses all ages and cultural background.

Big Bucks...and they hit a Whammy.


Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!! www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm

Sutton Ross Profile Photo
Sutton Ross
#19NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 12:25pm

I enjoyed this show but recognized the problems with it. Anna's character is incredibly unlikeable, you never really route for them as a couple because everyone around them seems cool with their relationship, and Colton is literally doing whatever he wants with this character, making him too weird for audiences to sincerely care what happens to him.

I don't read GOP gossip rags but no article was needed to tell me this show has been struggling.

 

Phillyguy
#20NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 12:34pm

quizking101 said: "BETTY22 said: "WOW. $1.2 million per week break even.

What were they thinking?
"

They were thinking it had the potential to become a long-running hit with an armful of Tony Awards and an appeal that crosses all ages and cultural background.

Big Bucks...and they hit a Whammy.
"

Exactly, what were they thinking? 

What about this show made the creatives and producers think it was going to be a long-running hit. I wonder how much of the show do the producers see before they have to commit to the funding. I assume they have to put in some money to get the book and songs written, but did they not have a chance to stop it or fix it before making it to the stage? 

Mr. Wormwood Profile Photo
Mr. Wormwood
#21NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 12:52pm

quizking101 said: "BETTY22 said: "WOW. $1.2 million per week break even.

What were they thinking?
"

They were thinking it had the potential to become a long-running hit with an armful of Tony Awards and an appeal that crosses all ages and cultural background.

Big Bucks...and they hit a Whammy.
"

That's the problem, so many producers (& creative teams for that matter) get so into their own bubble that they think they have a Tony winning hit that will easily gross over $1mil a week and they spend accordingly. That's such delusional thinking though and then they get stunned by bad reviews or poor box office. There's a reason a musical like Shucked is going to run longer because that team had no delusions that it was going to be a Hamilton-like smash out of the gate and their strategy and spending reflected that (I'm not saying Shucked is going to be a huge hit either but I'm sure it's not bleeding money like NYNY or SLIH).

RippedMan Profile Photo
RippedMan
#22NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 12:55pm

Why don't they partner with NYC tourism and make it THE show to see? Like come see the namesake show on Broadway. It ends with the title song. Should be such an easy sell to tourists. 

Kad Profile Photo
Kad
#23NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 1:04pm

Do tourists really want to come to NYC to see a show about how great NYC is? 


"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

ucjrdude902 Profile Photo
ucjrdude902
#24NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 1:05pm

Let this be a lesson that you cant but LMM on the marquee and think it's going to sell. 

binau Profile Photo
binau
#25NY, NY may be on its way to closing-NY Post
Posted: 7/11/23 at 1:07pm

I could be wrong, but I'm guessing the strategy is/was that they thought this could essentially become a staple of New York musicals that tourists would feed for years. They'd line up to see "New York, New York" as part of a trip the same way they'd go to a museum. They'd recognise the iconic 'New York, New York' song in particular and love it and tell their friends back home. They also probably thought LMM's name is a gold mine and overestimated his draw in this context. They probably thought it'd be critic and award proof because the title is so striking. It just didn't work out this way at all for some reason. 

I must admit, I was hoping to catch this show so I too was hoping it would catch on. But alas. 


"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022) "Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009) "Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000


Videos